₦airaland Forum

I am sure some how, some way, The white man have apart to play in all of these.

Serious post though, I think its being posted before and I suppose people just need re-educating.

spikedcylinder:
El,
What then do the Obama's have to do to satisfy your definition of "true family"?

People seem to be taking this wrongly. I have no problem with the Obama's they owe me nothing and vice versa. However, I merely pointed an observation, which I already stated it may not be popular with some.

Anyway, ask yourself how may Families have a PR behind them? Please look up what PR people do. Finally, I am saying, they are not a true representation of what family is all about. It is more or less an image of what people want and they are giving it to the public. Apart from what you see on tv, what do you really know about them? Hence why I made an illustration about how we know more about The Simpson than the Obamas.

Nah I refuse to believe that. How come the OPEC know how much oil barrels we produce a day? Or is it all just estimates looking at our capability?

debosky:
Based on the above definition Nigeria is not a failed state - there are some unclear definitions such as 'reasonable public services'. Hospitals and schools exist in Nigeria, so does the postal service and rubbish collection in some localities. What may be 'reasonable' for Europe/North America may not be 'reasonable' for Nigeria.

Hence why I made of mention of how we ticked more YES than NO. As for the unclear definitions, I suppose one can look at what is considered "reasonable" in Nigeria today to find an answer of some kind?

Somalia is a failed state, and on comparison to Nigeria, boy we dey do fine. However, if have to compare likes for likes, Let's say a nation like Ghana, perhaps Nigeria maybe [a big MAYBE] heading towards the path of a failed state.

PS
Damn. We are listed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_state#Failed_States_List

dayokanu,

Is canada cold? Do bear Poo in the woods? What do you think the role of the PR team are?

As for the rest of your post, it is all Maybes and not worthy of a proper reply.

This debate is simple to be honest. Look at the characteristics of a failed state, compare it to the current state of Nigeria and then make your own decision. Simple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_state#Economic_indicators

The term failed state is often used by political commentators and journalists to describe a state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government. In order to make this definition more precise, the following attributes, proposed by the Fund for Peace, are often used to characterize a failed state:

    * loss of physical control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force therein,
    * erosion of legitimate authority to make collective decisions,
    * an inability to provide reasonable public services, and
    * an inability to interact with other states as a full member of the international community.

Common characteristics of a failing state include a central government so weak or ineffective that it has little practical control over much of its territory; non-provision of public services; widespread corruption and criminality; refugees and involuntary movement of populations; and sharp economic decline

For me Nigeria ticks more YES than NO. However, I feel reluctant to say we are a failed state.

Debosky, pork to me is like KFC to the black man. Don't ever say such a thing, Abstinence ke? Never! Pork till I die. **Heads to kitchen to make pork chops**

blacksta:
The Nigerian government have failed deal with common malaria or polio. Please forget about this swine virus. Seek alternative protection if you are a true christian you are covered by the blood of Jesus. Any other religon ( you at the mercy of your devices)

I have a feeling someone will pick up the bait.

Gaming laptops are expensive. I would recommend building a PC base instead. You will get better performance and more bang for your buck. But, if you want a gaming laptop then wait till someone who knows where to get one comes in.

Good luck.

Yeah just got home, Gonna eat, shit, sleep, bath and fire up the ps3 later. I will add you guys then. Thanks.

You appear to have missed existing thread/discussion on this. It is right there in your front.

vanunu:
These British people are crimimals, In 1966 they aided Gowon's Government , that killed more than a 100,000 Igbo's, in the 1966 ethnic cleansing of people from eastern Nigeria.
They also gave Gowon's govt weapons and technically aid, that he used to kill more than one million others later.

Interesting and very strong allegations you have there. Do you have a proof of these please?

lucabrasi:
well then let me re-phrase my comment, what gives a diasporian the right to tell nigerians not to stand and watch evil thrive,when the diasporian in question is sitting back abroad,if you followed how africa got independence,the trail blazing pan africanist,the nkrumahs,the awolowos,ziks e.t.c were all diasporians who could have gotten good jobs had they stayed on abroad,so what excuse do the diasporians have??

if you felt that strongly about the state nigeria is in,my view is that you will be in nigeria,pro actively effecting change in your own little way,not staying afar off advocating for change(by you,i mean diasporians)we ave seen various charities send caucasian foreigners to take up the roles we should be volunteering for
out of curiousity,if you r not advocating for violent change of any kind,in what way dyu propose nigerians changing the status quo if you dont mind me asking?

It appears you may be making some wrong assumptions here. No one have exactly told Nigerians to stand and watch, or tell them what to do. People's opinion and fact presented in a debate should not be seen as a "I am telling you what to do" kind of thing.
Yes the freedom fighters did it the way they see fit as at the time. We have some how moved on from that era, and we are dealing with ever so slightly different issues here.

You appear to have this thinking of seeing people who are abroad as some sort of Magic pill of some kind. Let us look at the broader picture shall we? Allow me to use myself as an example. My area of "expertise" is highly specialised, as a result I can make a contribution in a little way like you are saying. However, this area is not developed back home due to other fundamental problems that have made it even more complicated and highly impossible for me to carry out what I can do best.
There isn't constant electricity and even with Generators, it is hard time getting fuel. There isn't any properly executed initiatives to see money pumped into the sector I would love to work back home. Can you imagine the light going off in the middle of an urgent assay? A result that patient life depended upon?

You see, until these things are rectified - i.e the Fundamental issues that makes it impossible for people like me to make a positive contribution, some of us will carry on working here. You see, the problem do not lie with us, but from the inability for "whoever is responsible" to put in place a few things that allows people like me to come and give my services.

People do not need violence in my opinion. What we need back home, is what I would call a self-examination, a reality cheak and a re-birth of our thinking ways. We have tried doing things and it somehow do not work, or come below expectation. I personally believe that, if we have to apply those few things  I mentioned, then we have a greater chance of seeing positive changes than we are seeing now.

lucabrasi:
well,like the saying you have used in your comment,if you felt things have not been done in the correctly prescribed way,then ill earnestly suggest rather than castigations you should throw your hat in the ring and give it a go,second theres nothing wrong in constructive criticism but when it becomes a regular past-time ro a way of scoring one for the team,then thats getting to become something else, diasporians who know themselves dont even believe politicians should be applauded for a good initiative just because they are doing  the job their paid for,forgetting that leaders should be encouraged to do betterwell then,if you r not planning to be pro active,the purpose has been defeated already hasnt it?

See above. I am more than happy to throw my hat in, only that there isn't a ring and I don't even know who am supposed to speak to about the ring!

I think you may have forgotten that this is a forum, and a place where debate takes place. Criticizing or pointing at the obvious is part and parcel of what makes this place interesting. No one is making it a habit or past time to become a critic. If anything, the criticism comes as a result of inactions on part of Nigeria.  The criticism comes due to poor track record, it comes due to perpetual habit of the government presenting initiatives, that to most lacks common sense etc. You can see, it is Nigeria that gives the ammo for her to be shot at.

If it helps your case, I have posted a few "well dones" at some stories I have seen. 

You do realise that being pro active, do not mean I have to be involved directly? In fact, I would go as far as saying having this debate here is a form of indirect pro activity. Perhaps I should ask you what you would propose, or what is your definition of being pro active about the issue affecting Nigeria? Coming home to make a change?

lucabrasi:
ill also answer this with a simple analogy,passing the buck endlessly i.e waiting for a proverbial knight in shinning armour and a flying pure white steed to rescue us  will not and never get the job done,so i dont think the rap makes much sense, do you?

I disagree. It makes more sense because from where I am coming from, I have the will and the urge to effect a change, however due to circumstances beyond my control I am forced to watch for now. Ask yourself, how many changes would you like to see? How many of those can you truly achieve when it comes to issues affecting Nigeria? There, I rest my case.

Thanks Blacksta.

And I answered you that I am not afraid to die, Meh. Never mind.

cold:
I pray you go first,we'l b comin bhind

I am not afraid of death, It is merely an eternal sleep Besides, we all die in the end anyway.

It is a well known fact. Humans are the only species that do not subscribes to certain rules of nature. If you put a few bacteria in an agar dish, they would eventually use it up and die off. Humans are able to over come this via our higher reasoning and complex problem solving. However, the resources on earth is limited and as we continue to expand with higher birth rates and lower death rates, something just have to give.  

To put these into perspective, imagine a room packed with 6people when it is only ideal for 4people. Eventually someone have to go, or something have to happen.

Diseases that have lay dormant tend to become active again, and as a result of our body not being ready for it - i.e when new strain are formed, or when existing strains jump in-between species that is when the recipe for a Pandemic/Epidemic is made.

lucabrasi:
@poster
a little tip,when starting a thread such as this,or an objective discourse of any kind,it s helpful for you not to pre judge or be partisan before you hear  various contributor's views, to answer your question,ill like to state clearly here that,i belong to the camp you have just highlighted and a capital and unequivocal no,i neither live in nigeria,so im not bitter nor jelouse neither do i have any unresolved issues,

Thanks. I however disagree! My approach was a balanced one as far as am concerned. You need to understand that this thread was prompted by a few posts directed at me which I felt had a few tones of bitterness in it.

Also if you noticed, I actually made a post encouraging those who may have a different view from mine to highlight where we may be going wrong.

lucabrasi:
speaking for myself,the reason i totally diasgree with fellow diasporians is clear from most of their posts especially on here,what gives any individual or group of diasporians the right to castigate home based nigerians as not being desirous of real change because they r not protesting or standing in the path of the nigerian police's bullets?

Speaking for myself here, I haven't asked anyone to engage in violence of any kind, so as to potentially allow change. However, what I tend to advocate is that "Evil flourish, when good men stand and watch". From my observation and in my experience, we are more than happy to just adapt to any situation thrown at us, this is as bad as not doing anything in my opinion.
Remember the song by Fela Anikulapo Kuti, where he sang about how "My people sef dey fear to much, "? I guess my view is similar to what he said in that song.

lucabrasi:
does the fact that the political leadership is messed up give diasporians the right to condemn every single initiative or scheme from govt?
if you are residing abroad in the comfort of your living room,its difficult for you to justify calling for a revolution from average nigerians especially when u wont be there to fight with them but watch on cnn or cbs news when the casualities/body counts are being reported

To say people away from home condemns every single initiative is just not true am afraid. I do however beleive that some of our initiatives are poorly planned and sometimes badly executed. A good example of a current one would be the proposal for the Benefit/Welfare system being considered. As a good idea, it can't be knocked. However on closer inspection, one start to see the flaws in it. How many people pays tax in Nigeria? Surely, it would be unfair for the minority paying tax to fund such schemes? Again, one is forced to look at how we are poor at record keeping etc, Then the good idea now starts to look like a very bad idea. This is the way some of us see things and there really nothing wrong in pointing these things out in a debate.

As for sitting in my comfy chair, well let me answer you by quoting my favourite rapper. "I never said I am going to change the world, nor do I set out to do so. However, If I talk about how dirty it is enough, I'm sure someone will come along and clean it up"

From what I have read and what not, it appears the human population is due another epidemic becoming Pandemic, Perhaps this is it? The world population is past it peak, and in some way an endemic out break would probably be a blessing in disguise. There are limited resources, and in other to ensure our continuous survival, a few of these things may have to happen.

An example is the Black death of the 13th century that sees almost about 60% of the population wiped out.

Some argued that if a world wide disease out break do not happen soon, then we can definitely count on having a third world war.

~Sauron~:
Who has FIFA 09 and can PLAY online?

**Grave yard silence**

I remember debating a similar article on another forum I use [Populated by white guys] I remember saying it was a view from a person who is most likely a Racial Supremacist. I think the one I am talking about was written my an American. In it, he described the Black race as lazy etc and have similar tones to this one you posted.

As much as the article goes, it was written almost 8 decades ago and as such probably not a true representation of the current Nigeria in a lot of ways. We have moved on from the time of the colonial masters, we have our destiny in our hands and in the face of all odds, we try to do as much as we can.

Having said that, it may sound contradicting to say that some of his points are in some ways valid though, if am to be honest.

This is some of the division issues I don't feel comfortable with. Also our focus should be looking into alternatives to the oil industry like Cash crops, manufacturing and other areas. Oil is over-rate and soon it would run, then what?

Thanks wirinet  

tpiah:
Today's news:

cases found in New York.

that was fast- yesterday they said Texas, today it's jumped to New York.

lord have mercy.

Air travel!

It just goes to show how much rate people move in between countries. A test in the UK already proved positive in one person.

wirinet,

Do you advocate the use of violence to restore "democratic right"? Just wondering what your stance is/are on that one.

'Glad a few people here have defended our cultures.

It gets on my nerves when Christianity and Islamity are touted as the true religion, When our own religions and cultures are labelled Paganism and something that will take us all to hell. [Hell - a concept that was coined by the white man in the first place]

Our culture as a result is fading away, it is time we them back before we stand the risk of losing them forever.

GettysBurg:
Why you dey vex?

Is it bad to show you your errors?

I thought you want to show our bad leaders their own errors.

Lmao. Lolocopter!

In fairness to the OP, he may have the right ideas, but he somehow manages to execute them poorly.

Let us give him the benefit of doubt and actually take him serious.

So Onenaija, can you please tell me how you have made such arrangements?

This things just brings painful memories for me. My dad house nearly got burnt, when mob armed with cutlasses and sticks attacked his house simply because he supported the winning party back in the 80s.

Fast forward to 2009 and this violence is still in ingrained in my people, It sucks.

I think the mere fact people are getting involved is a bad thing. Even if he now gets the award, people would feel it is because of the pressure put upon the body that gives the award.

I love his logic, reasoning and his style of writing as a result, Achiebe is a living legend, no award is bigger than that in my book.

He is giving people what people want, so let us praise him for that.

ThiefOfHearts:
while I see ElRazur, if most of their actions were "fake", I think the republicans would have brought it to light esp by now

It appears that in American politics, family issues are respected by opponents and not used as a "political weapon". A few examples that supports this statement is the case of Sarah Palin. Remember how not much was said about her pregnant daughter, and the opposition respected this? Remember the Bill Clinton saga, the focus was the lies and not how it may have damage Mrs Clinton etc.

Personally for me, I find it hard to accept that a family with a PR behind them is a "true" representation of a real family.

tombola:
ElRazur

You used one persons opinion to judge in context what happens in a whole country? Where are you from realy?

Many of us did our higher degrees in the UK and we came out far far ahead of our folks who had been in the same profession like us b4, if we knew nothing or if the system we came from had been that bad, how come we exceled in greater colours than the people who had been in the system you are glorifying?

You either lack the ability to read and understand, or you do not know what you are talking about! I have stated before that I have visited a few hospitals in Nigeria - Go back to read and understand my previous post.
My nephew and the other one who I mentioned is a doctor are the people you and I will consider as people who know what they are talking about. To dismiss them is just silly. On top of that I also mentioned I am basing mypoint on what I have seen and combining it with their own experience. You know as we have a few medics in the family, we tend to discuss and share ideas you know.

tombola:
If the Nigerian system is that bad, how come the UK has been for the five past years recruiting professionals under the HSMP programme from Nigeria to work in the UK? I know a few Biomedical indomie like you who studied and had worked in Nigeria and got recruiited to the UK to go and work, I can name you hundreds of Engineers, IT goons, medical personel etc who had been recruited from the same system you think is not good and they are working well in the UK, how do you think Mr ElRufai?

Let me put what you are saying into perspective "Nigeria once beat Brazil and Argentina, so it must mean we are the best in the world"!

The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is closed. It is now replaced with a point based system. Seriously, how up to date are you? India and Pakistan produces more Doctors and Engineers than we [Nigeria] do and they are having a difficult time getting in. Yes there are a few from back home who work here, but it is no longer so. The universities here are churning out more and more Doctors every now and then, so why take on people from abroad? The few people who are allowed in are HIGHLY SPECIALISED.

Now, for my profession in which you seem to have a fixation on. I should bring it to your attention that NO ONE EVER would be taken as a Biomedical scientist from Nigeria period.
Here are the reasons -The course itself needs to be taken at a University that is accredited by the Institute of Biomedical Science [IBMS]. Then you will need to do a portfolio that allows you to be Multi-disciplinary, pass this portfolio before one is allowed to be State registered.

Once you do the above, you will need to attain a Specialist portfolio - I.e you become specialised in a field. The means another 2years of training and you will need to do a Masters in between. And that is just for starters,

Now tell me if the IBMS and HPC [Health Professional Council] haven't accredited any University in Nigeria, how the heck would they [Your friends] be appointed as a Biomedical Scientist? Not having the right degree means two things, either you go and do another 2years in Uni, so as to attain the necessary background knowledge needed on a degree level or do a 3 or 4 year course in Biomedical sciences in an accredited university. So, I really do not see how one those people would have been employed from Nigeria.

Further more, Biomedical Scientist is a protected title, [Protected by the IBMS, HPC and a few bodies] This means no one is allowed to use such title unless they have gone through the standards set out that I mentioned above. So how the heck your friends who studied in Nigeria and becomes Biomedical Scientist baffles me. Please know what you are talking about next time.


I think a few of you here have confused a laboratory technician with someone who is a Biomedical scientist. Laboratory technicians are sometimes referred to as Lab. Scientist as well. It do not how ever make them a Biomedical scientist.

tombola:
Your main problem is that you have eaten too much indomie noodles and your stomach is mish mashed into a glorified and liquified dadarism which is seriously making you see less of what you should see and more of what you shouldnt see, chei, I am waiting for the day i will see you and i will give you fried yam and beans to eat to wake you out of your slumbing slumber.

Look dude, I have no problem with you. It is a debate and nothing more you see.
I am pretty much easy going. In fact, I will offer you the hand of friendship around these fora.

I don't think "Mature games" have been the selling point for Nintendo DS though. From the days of the Gameboy down to its current reincarnation, its been always about fun games I would think.